SmackDown Star Recalls Initially Rejecting WWE Contract

A Friday Night SmackDown star has explained why they rejected the chance to sign with WWE in 2019.

In October 2024 Motor City Machine Guns made their long-awaited debut on in WWE, signing with the company after two decades competing for the likes of TNA Wrestling, ROH, NJPW and many other promotions.

While Motor City Machine Guns’ SmackDown debut on October 18 was the first WWE appearance for Chris Sabin, in January 2020 Alex Shelley competed for a handful of matches on the NXT brand – teaming alongside KUSHIDA in that year’s Dusty Rhodes Tag Team Classic tournament, as well as two NXT live event shows.

Speaking to CBS Sports’ Shakiel Mahjouri, Shelley recalled being offered a contract by WWE in 2019, and turning down the opportunity due to the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Shelley explained:

“I had tabled a WWE contract offer because of the pandemic, I was too scared to sign a wrestling contract because the entertainment industry was so up and down. I didn’t know what was going on. Nobody in the world did.”

After turning out for WWE in early 2020, Shelley returned to TNA Wrestling for two different spells across the next four years, winning his first TNA World Championship in June 2023.

Seven months on from their WWE debut, Motor City Machine Guns have one WWE Tag Team Championship reign to their name – they also officially join the roster of WWE 2K25 today (May 14) as a part of the New Wave DLC pack for the game alongside Stephanie Vaquer, Giulia and a not yet announced celebrity guest.

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